Tucanos could be start of City Center's transformation, officials say

NEWPORT NEWS — While Tucanos Brazilian Grill celebrated its opening with a VIP party at City Center recently — complete with a Brazilian band, skewers of meat, salads and other ethnic food — officials hoped that the restaurant is the start of something more for the New Urbanism center.

Mayor McKinley Price cut the ribbon with an Amazon-style knife, instead of the typical giant pair of scissors.

Tucanos should help revitalize City Center, transforming it into more of a nighttime entertainment district, officials said. City Center started with more boutique shopping, but the retail sector has struggled during the down economy.

Over the past two years, developers in the public-private partnership have focused on entertainment.

In addition to Tucanos, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill opened recently, and construction is expected to start in 2013 on the movie theater/custom brew pub development in an empty lot near the Marriott Hotel.

"It's all coming together. We've been talking about Tucanos for a few years now," Price said. "I'm glad they're here."

Bill Hudgins, vice president of Harvey Lindsay, City Center's developer, said there's now some momentum at City Center. He said announcements of new businesses coming to City Center, including another entertainment tenant, should be in the works by mid-2013.

"The entertainment has become a package that can attract others," Hudgins said. "We have an aggressive vision and plan."

Joe Heeb, one of Tucanos founders, was at City Center for the VIP party. He said the idea of the restaurant is to serve good ethnic food, but also have a party atmosphere.

"It will be different," Heeb said. "It's not a typical chain restaurant experience."

Heeb said Tucanos keeps the entertainment factor in the mix by always locating their restaurants near movie theaters. Heeb said the movie theater project at City Center was a key to making Newport News the first presence for the small chain on the East Coast.

"City Center is an ideal location for us," Heeb said. "Our restaurants have an urban Rio de Janeiro feel. It's much more upbeat and festive."